A CAT has been reunited with its owner after being discovered hiding in the bonnet of a work van – almost 100km away from home.
Liam Sneddon had been performing a check on his vehicle in Broxburn, West Lothian on Friday when he discovered a small cat cowering behind a tangle of machinery under the bonnet.
The recovery driver soon shared a plea through the business’s Facebook page in the hopes of reuniting the pet – a tabby cat named Pixie – with its owner.
The plea was heard by business owner Andrea Power, who soon checked Pixie’s microchip to discover that he had travelled all the way from the town of Selkirk, Scottish Borders, in the bonnet of the van.
One image shows Pixie, 4, curled in a rather awkward position behind the inner workings of Liam’s van, whilst further images show him crouched cautiously on the floor after being rescued.
The vehicle recovery company – Hardie Recovery Services – shared the images to social media on Friday, writing: “Power of Facebook help us get this wee cat home as someone is probably worried sick.
“Liam has done a check on the truck today and found this wee cat in the engine bay, it’s unharmed, want to get it back to its owner.
“I would say it’s a wee girl, she’s vocal, truck was in Galloway Crescent, Broxburn but the truck has been to Polbeth and also Killin.
“Hoping it’s local.”
The post received dozens of likes, shares and comments as many concerned residents attempted to aid in getting the wandering cat home.
The post caught the attention of Andrea Power in particular, who offers cat-sitting and dog walking services.
Andrea checked Pixie’s microchip and soon discovered Pixie’s owner was 46-year-old Katie Prentice from Selkirk, who received the emotional call on Friday evening that her cat was safe.
Welling up, Katie arranged to pick up Pixie the next day, with the cat enjoying a well-earned rest after his long journey throughout Scotland.
Andrea, 46, said today: “It was all down to social media and on Friday, someone tagged me on a post to say a cat was found in a works van, because they know I’ve got a chip scanner.
“I went up and scanned. him and he had a microchip, which was great.
“It gave me all of his details, which were up-to-date. He had been missing for two weeks from Selkirk, where the van had actually been that day.
“So, he must have been clinging onto it, bless him. It was great speaking to Katie, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I heard her relay to her friends that Pixie had been found and she was over the moon. We agreed that I would keep him in for the night as it was late and she picked him up the next day.”
So, Pixie had jumped into the bonnet of the van, travelled from Selkirk to West Lothian. The van driver had said that had Pixie moved a few inches, he would have been on the road.
“You can get [microchipping] done cheaply, there’s offers on in charities. Get it done and register the chip with the updated name and address – a lot of people don’t realise you need to do that.”
Speaking today, Pixie’s owner Katie said: “He was missing since 11 January. He went out at night – he doesn’t normally go out but decided to that night.
“But there was a cat fight going on outside. Normally, he will be sitting on the window sill or at the front door but he was nowhere to be seen.
“I thought he was licking his wounds after the cat fight but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Friends and neighbours were looking for him, social media posts were put up and people were checking ring doorbells.
“This was out of character for him, he doesn’t usually wander. Then, we had horrible weather storms and minus degrees outside, and all I could think of was ‘where is he?’
“I had a feeling though, I thought he had maybe been brought in and was being fed by someone. I was round at my neighbours house, having a get-together when I got the phone call.
“I was like ‘OMG!’ The lady handler was lovely, she said she was in Broxburn and I was like ‘OMG, I’m all the way in the Borders!’
“She was a lovely lady – she met me on Saturday and he’d been sleeping on her shoulder.
“I took him to the vet and he’s fine, just very thin and needs to eat a bit more – the vet had been ready to give him a drip and eye injections.
“He’s clearly not been taken in and fed while missing – he’s lost 2 kilos.
“Me and the kids were crying when he was found, even my dog was like ‘OMG, he’s back.’
“It was very emotional. You just have a feeling – I didn’t think he was dead and communities are so good at informing owners if cats have been run over.
“The main message here is: get your cat chipped.
